In this article, Andreas Pettersson, CEO, Arcules, discusses the benefits of structured video data for security and digital transformation. Read on for more information about how businesses can incorporate video into their digital transformation strategy.

Digital transformations are a ‘must-have’ for businesses of all sizes and industries. According to an IDC report, worldwide spending on digital transformation (DX) technologies is expected to surpass $2.1 trillion by 2021 as organizations strive to make their operations more effective and responsive. The adoption of new technologies can also help organizations think outside the box and improve the value of a business product or service.

With a digital transformation, enterprises can achieve multiple goals such as developing products to remain relevant in a shifting marketplace, improving workplace efficiencies and boosting employee morale.

As organizations increasingly leverage digital tools to optimize their operations, most companies are overlooking a valuable resource at their disposal: video data. With intelligent video solutions, organizations can apply artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to raw surveillance footage to glean useful business insights.

Combining cross-sensor data with smart video can help surveillance professionals examine operational inefficiencies in a new light. In large hotels, for example, smart video can work in tandem with door sensors to determine which entryways are busiest and what other factors may be contributing to excessive foot traffic.

Identifying which manual workflows can be improved or supplemented with technology

Monitoring consumer behaviors to inform new product or service development

Streamlining employee activities while bolstering safety procedures

Take the hospitality industry, where hoteliers can leverage video data to gather information on ways to improve the customer experience and simplify employee workloads. By analyzing guest traffic to service locations, intelligent video can help hoteliers preemptively staff and prepare employees for increased traffic.

Additionally, intelligent video can consistently monitor footage for potential criminal activity, allowing surveillance teams to focus on other responsibilities and only alerting security when a legitimate concern arises.

There are several reasons why companies have shied away from incorporating this existing video data into their digital transformation strategies. For starters, most organizations associate video data with physical security. Cameras are mostly used to passively monitor a building or a perimeter and footage was reviewed only when an incident like a robbery takes place.

Another obstacle preventing companies from fully utilizing their cameras is the absence of a solution or platform that can structure raw surveillance footage. Context is key, and without knowing the circumstances surrounding video data it can be difficult for surveillance teams to extract valuable insights.

Today, nearly every company is thinking about their own digital transformation journey — but the tools they choose to leverage will determine how successful their transformation will be. Video technology is poised to become integral to how businesses communicate ideas and information, and organizations that embrace it will benefit from a digital transformation that yields improved operational efficiency and rapid business growth.